What is the largest part of your home that moves? Easily, the answer is the garage door. When the door works well, a simple push of a button on a remote control causes the door to open or close. The door itself is built of many parts which move each time the door opens or closes. These moving parts require maintenance or you could find yourself with a large garage door repair bill.

Maintenance as well as inspection is the best way to prevent having to do further garage door repair. Inspect each moving part of the garage door. You will be looking for worn or loose parts such as mounting hardware, rollers or hinges. Each of these need to be replaced if repair is not an option.

Making sure that the moving parts are lubricated on a regular basis will increase the life of your garage door. Any good penetrating oil will do the trick. After half an hour for the oil to penetrate throughout the moving part, be sure to wipe each exposed part with a dry rag to remove excess oil. This will keep you from having oil stains on your clothing from bumping against an overly lubricated hinge.

Even the best inspections or maintenance cannot prevent all problems with garage doors. The torsion springs which typically are located on the wall above the door only have a usable life from between four years and seven years. When one of these springs breaks there will be a noticeable bang.

Replacing one of the torsion springs is no job for the inexperienced handyman. The amount of pressure required to install these springs can lead to serious complications for anyone not knowing what they are doing. If you have any question about your own ability to do the installation, it is time to call the repair person. Unsuspecting homeowners have lost there lives trying to mess with these springs, so seek professional know how.

One handy invention that has become very popular in recent years is the electric garage door opener. They offer security, as the garage door cannot be opened from the outside without the remote control. In addition the electric garage door opener adds convenience as the driver no longer has to get out of the car in inclement weather to open the garage door.

Garage door openers work great, until they don’t work. If you are having a problem with a garage door and need garage door opener repair, then check the owner’s manual. You will find troubleshooting directions in that manual.

If you cannot find your manual, check online with the manufacturer for an electronic copy. In this manual, you will find directions for needed adjustments to have that garage door opener working like new again.

Most problems with electric door opener problems are related to problems caused by a photoelectric sensor. It this sensor is blocked or has been bumped so that in is misaligned. This will cause the door to open but not close or to close only partially before reopening.

Additional problems can be caused by vibrations that change the force settings. While easily adjustable, you will find the best directions and illustrated drawings in the owners manual.